October 2010: For The Record

Words: Dan Kamys

October 2010

For The Record

Great Things

jennifer morrellJennifer Morrell Editor jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

By the time you read this, the Nov. 2 elections will have come and gone. Whether you anticipated that the results would affect you directly, there’s no doubt that the mid-term shake-up will matter. But, if you’re like me, the campaigning will just about drive you crazy. Here in Georgia, the race for the Office of Governor has been a nasty, mudslinging event. The negative campaigning has taken the place, if only temporarily, of the negative talk about the economy. So I thought I’d bring to the forefront a few “great things” that can shed some positivity. A Green Schools Center The U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) has launched the Center for Green Schools to fulfill an ambitious goal of ensuring everyone has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation.??USGBC says United Technologies Corp. is the first Founding Sponsor of the Center for Green Schools. Through the Center, USGBC is escalating its work on green schools caucuses in the U.S. Congress and the 50 for 50 Initiative with state legislatures nationwide; the nationwide Mayors’ Alliance for Green Schools; and the Coalition for Green Schools, which represents more than 10 million members collectively and comprises organizations such as the National PTA, the National School Boards Association, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. First state to adopt green code Rhode Island is the first state to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The Rhode Island Green Buildings Act identifies the IGCC as an equivalent standard in compliance with requirements that all public agency major facility projects be designed and constructed as green buildings. The Rules and Regulations to implement the act took effect in October. The IGCC applies to new and existing, traditional and high-performance commercial buildings. It includes ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 as an alternative compliance requirement. In addition to the Code Council, cooperating sponsors of the IGCC are the American Institute of Architects, ASTM International, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the USGBC and the Illuminating Engineers Society. In August, Richland, Wash., became the first city globally to adopt the IGCC as a non-mandatory document for commercial buildings. Blog for construction professionals Maxwell Systems Inc. has launched Construction Biz Wiz, a blog that provides content of interest and value to professionals across the construction industry, including construction business owners, managers, accounting staff, project managers, estimators, IT managers, etc. The link is http://blog.maxwellsystems.com. Got good news? We’ll publish it in Masonry Magazine or on our website, www.masonrymagazine.com. Just email it to: jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com. Return to Table of Contents
Contractor Tip of the Month: Get Used to the Pain
April 2026

Pain isn’t just negative; it’s a natural part of growing and improving. Instead of seeing pain as a reason to quit, recognize it as a sign you’re making progress. What sets successful people apart is their ability to stay calm and keep going when things g

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Fechino Files: Diesels Below 32 Degrees
April 2026

I am guessing that if you are reading this, then you experienced the cold, late-January spell that took over most of the country. The cold weather has many effects on the operations of a masonry contractor, from job shutdowns to equipment starting issues,

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Conner Birdsong
Outreach Outlook
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More